THREE X FOUR

The 12 zodiac signs can be divided up into categories. One category consists of the 12 signs gathered into groups of 3 according to the 4 astrological elements, Fire, Air, Earth and Water. These 4 groups of 3 signs each, are called in astrology the ‘Triplicities’. [See earlier blogg]

A further division of our 12 zodiac signs is by ‘mode’ of action. These are the inherent qualities of differentiated matter. There are 4 signs gathered together according to each of the 3 ‘modes’ of action. These modes are possibly best described by the Hindu classification as put forward by the Astrologer and Theosophist Alan Leo. In Hindu they are called the ‘Guanas’, and are as follows:-

Rajas: which gives a direct motion of desire and activity.

Tamas: which gives a rotary motion that tends to firmness and building.

Sattva: a vibratory motion, which gives rhythm and harmony.

In the western world we give these modes of activity the names of Cardinal [Rajas] Fixed [Tamas] and Mutable [Sattva]. Cardinal signs get things started; Fixed signs give the endurance to make the action sustained and worthwhile; Mutable signs allow for change and variety when the thing considered needs to move on. A little imagination will allow one to get a grip on these states of being and expand them fully.

The 3 modes of action may be represented by the Hindu Trinity of:-

BRAHMA symbolising the action of Rajas as the first out-pourings of creative energy to stimulate life, seen in the Cardinal signs, Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.

SHIVA symbolising the action of Tamas, the moving around in a circle or cycle of conservation, destruction and regeneration. It is the dance of life, symbolised in the Fixed motion of the Fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.

VISHNU symbolising the activity of Sattva, as the god of many and varied aspects of form. The shape shifter of the Mutable quality seen in the signs Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.

The Cardinal quality [Rajas] energises, the Fixed quality gives stability [Shiva], the Mutable quality allows for adjustment [Vishnu].

PREDICTION

With all the hype of the predicted ‘End of the World’ according to Western interpretation of the Mayan calendar, it might be as well to remember our history, which is full of such predictions.

Going way back to the 12^th Century it may be noted that an abbot of Calabria in Italy by the name of Joachim of Fiore, depressed everyone with a prediction of the end of the world in 1260. Dante accredited him with praise for his spirit of prophecy.

Albrecht Durer 'The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse'

As a Medieval mystic Joachim held thoughts that the ages of history ended in a ‘Last Judgment’. Every new age, he thought, was ushered in by a period of incubation, which necessarily saw great disturbances in the existing order of things. It was at such times of instability that bloody wars and chaotic conditions existed and preceded the unsealing of the next seal of the ‘Book of Seven Seals’.  It is said that each of the Biblical Apocalyptic 7 seals represents a new age of increased consciousness for humanity, following on from a period of upheaval.

Joachim prophesied 3 epochs in human history corresponding to the 3 Persons of the Trinity. The first was the ‘Age of the Father’ as recorded in the Old Testament, the second the ‘Age of the Son’ as recorded in the New Testament, and a future ‘Age of the Spirit’ would be heralded by a new order of monks and the demise of the existing corrupt Church.

After the upheaval comes a new sunrise.

Song of the Dawn

Salutation to the Rising Sun

Listen to the exhortation of the Dawn!

Look to this Day, for it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course, lie all the verities and realities of your existence;

The glory of action, the bliss of growth, the splendour of beauty.

For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision.

But today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this Day.

 [Excerpt from sacred Sanskrit text]